Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States has been wooing Saudi Arabia’s new
interior minister.

Western diplomats said the administration of President Barack Obama has
sought to enhance relations with Saudi Interior Minister Prince Mohammed Bin
Nayef.

The diplomats said the State Department and intelligence community
have determined that Mohammed, the son of the late Crown Prince Nayef, was the most pro-American minister in the Saudi Cabinet.

“Mohammed is clearly the most capable and modernist member of the
Cabinet,” a diplomatic source said.

On Jan. 14, President Barack Obama met Mohammed in the highest-level meeting in the United States in several years. The diplomats said Saudi leaders have been too ill to conduct official visits to the United States.

“They affirmed the strong partnership between the United States and
Saudi Arabia, and discussed security and regional issues of mutual
interest,” the White House said.

Diplomats said Mohammed facilitated expanded Saudi intelligence cooperation with the United States over the last four years. They said Mohammed, who long served as deputy interior minister, was regarded as the architect of the kingdom’s counter-insurgency policy.

Mohammed was appointed interior minister in November 2012 in wake of the
death of his father. His appointment was the first of the second generation
of Saudi princes, who have long served as deputy ministers to their powerful
fathers.

The diplomats said Mohammed was selected by King Abdullah as part of the
latter’s effort to introduce new blood in the aging Cabinet. They said
Mohammed’s appointment was opposed by other Cabinet members.

“The president congratulated Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef on his
appointment to minister of interior and asked him to convey his best wishes
to King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud,” the White House said.

  King Abdullah Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef, Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef, Saudi-U.S. intel cooperation, U.S. woos ‘modernist’ Saudi interior minister